The Goffer opens his account over fences The Goffer showed the benefit of his chasing debut at Cork last month when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase at Thurles this afternoon. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding showed his liking for this track when taking a Grade 3 over hurdles earlier this year and was never too far off the pace under Jack Kennedy. The 11/2 chance headed the front-running Indiana Jones entering the home straight and kept on well to score by two and a quarter lengths. The 10/11 favourite Churchstonewarrior was let down by his jumping but finished well to take the runner-up spot with Indiana Jones fading a further six and a half lengths back in third. Elliott said, "He liked the better ground a lot better and jumped a lot better there today. He had a good run when he won a Grade 3 hurdle here last March. "We'll try and find a little winners' race somewhere now and he is qualified for a handicap mark now so we'll see where we go." Quotes by Tom Weekes
